Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-15


"Arthur Fairfax, you must think I'm
blanlzed fool, if you believe I'm going to
swallow any such CANNON as that! What
put her into my headi Do you imagine that,
when man goes on in the most melodra-
matte manner, making every one quake in
his boots and each particular hair to stand
on end, like quilts upon the fretful porcu-
pine, and then caps the climax by taking his
friend to the verge of most horrible preci-
pice, telling him to look down and see dam
sci seated there below-do you suppose that
other fellow isn't going to have doubts OF
the first fellows sincerity, if not sanity,
when he asks in the most brassy manner
what put her into your head' What put
Lydia into my head! Why my eyes, of
course, when / looked over and saw her
stupid What else!'
"What! Lady Lydia tkeres" exclaimed
Fairfax, shade paler and leaning against
tree, III his surprise.
eyes, the Lady Lydia therei clever mas
ter-actor. and you knew it, toor'
II give you my word of honor didn't. I
thought it was the Princess"
''Wen, so she is, too; but, as 1 told you
before, she don't count. Lydia is reading
aloud and the Princess painting. Come and
see for yourself. But 1 can't understand
why you should be SO con6oundedly mystic
rious about it all. If / were running this
affair, I'D skip down those rocks Immediate
Fairfax shuddered ct the bare idea and,
taking the irrepressible Dick by the coat
collar, glared at that worthy in a way that
convinced him of the necessity of secrecy,
this time, at least
When they gained the bush, Fairfax's
breath came faster and harder. He half
hesitated. bat only for moment, and again
steeled himself TO this snealzng way of spy
ing upon an unsuspicious and lovely being.
at glance they took in the whole state
of affairs.
Directly below sat tho Princess, bending
over her painting. Thank Heaverl the
sketch was not yet finished.
AT least two days work upon il were nee
essary ere it could 0e taken, even in the
rough state, to finish in the studio. At the
expiration of that time ne hoped to return,
and-then!
Close beside Natalie sat Lydia, an open
book in her lap, lost in n brown study
The air was very calm and the two spies,
without much effort. could hear the slight
est sound below. The Princess, bending
low over her painting, was saying in quiet,
Indifferent tone of voise:
Lydia, who was that with whom you
were talking last nighti''
Lydia became suddenly wide-awake, and
nervously replied
''You mean the young American with
whom 1 was te.e-d-tete. as You came down
the stairs, suppose. WhyF'
BECAUSE" said the Princess, turning her
large dark eyes toward her Questoner, in
frank, ingenious manner, because he had
so md face. felt interested in him. Do
You know his histOry!n
81 was about to ask when you had met
him, Natalie, and what you knew about
himlo
Fairfax's face flushed crimson at the Prin-
cess mention of himself. Now that he had
become the subject of their conversation, he
could be eavesdropper 10 longer and at
tempted to pull Dick away by force. But
that wide-awake individual suddenly be-
came as obdurate as his friend In a loud,
clear whisper he said:
''If you don't unhand me I'll yell; and
then your game ii be up.''
Fairfax, surprised at this unexpected turn
In affairs, and recognizing the fact that
Richards Obstinacy had become aroused,
retired in confusion.
A secret JOY filed his heart Natalie had
acknowledged an interest in him-more than
his widest dreams could have realized! To
be sure it was contemplative sort of an
interest, but she hadn't vouchsafed even
that to any other mAle-at least, so Dick
AAd said
Eee the moment. the foolish young fellow